The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-12-08
Ing 90 that with which Russia pursues the
Nlhilisss. It would deetloy high license
at once In all the Statea,"


USES FOR THs REVENUE.
"WhIsky has done vast deal OF harm
In the United States. wonld try to max.
1t do some good. I would use the tar tc
fortliy our cities on the geaboard. In vleN
Of tho powerful letter addressed tc
the Democratic party on the sub.
ject of forti6calion BY Mr.. Samuel
J. Tildsn In 1856, l am smsxsd
that no attention has been paid to the
subject by tho Democratic administration
Never before In the history OF tho world
has any government allowed great citiet
on the seaboard like Philadelphia, New
York, Boston, Baltimore, New Ofleant
and San Franclsco 10 romain deienseloss'
But" said the reporter, "you dom
think we are to hayo war In any direc
tion." = /
DOES net EXPECT WAR.
"Certainly no.," said Mr.. Blaine
"Neither, I presume, did Nj. Tilden when
he wrote his remarkable letter,
But NO should change remote
chance 10 an absolute impossib!lity, Il
our weak and 12osel points we're strong
ly fortified. II to-day We had by any
chance even such war as we had wi!h
Mexico. our enemy could procure iron.
clads In Europe thst would menace on,
cities with destruction o. lay them under
contribution" D. :
"Bu! would not our ior!ilying now pos.
sibly look as II we expected war7"
WHY should II, any more than tho for.
t!hcationB made seventy or eighty yeare
ago BY our grandiatheis, when they
guarded themselves against snccessfnl
attack from armamenta OF that
day? We do not necessarily expect O
burglar because we lock our doora at night,
but If by any possibility burglar comes,
1t contributed vastly to our peace Of mind
and our Eound sleep to feel that lie cau't
get ia" @
THIN DIVIDE THE REVENUE.
"Bu! alter the Notifications had been
constructed, would you sill maintain the
tax on whiaky?"
"Yea," ssld Mr.. Blaine. $50 long rs
there Ia whisky to ta1, I would tax 1t, and
When tho National Government should
have no use for the money, would d.
vide tho tax among the Federal union
with the specific object Of tightening the
tax on real esiass. The houses and
farms OF tho whole country pay toe
la.gs proportion Of the tota!
taxes. II, ultimately, rollsf could
be given in that direction 1t would in my
Judgment bs wise and bsnefcent policy
some honcn., but misguided friends o.
temperance hays urged that the Govern
ment nhould not uas the money derived
from the tar on whioky. My reply is this
the tax on whisky by the Federal Gov
stnment with its suppression o.
all Illicit dstillntion and conns
quent enhancement OF price, he,
been powerful agent in temperance
reform by putting 1t beyond tho reach O.
30 many. Tho amount Of whisky coz
sumed in the United States per capita to-
day is uot.mo.e than 10 psr cant OF thu
consumed forty years sgo."
After a iew moments sileuce, Mr., Blaine
added that in his judgment tks
whisky tax should bo 30 modified as te
permit all who use pure alcohol in the art
or mechanical pursuits, to havs i. free o
tax. In all ouch casoa the tax could b,
omitted without danger OF fraud, lust 81
now the tax on spirita exported is remit
tod.
THE WOOL TARIFF.
"Bssidea your general and sweeping o..
position to the Prssident's recommends
tiono, have you any further specific otjac
tion2"
"Yes," answersd Mr.. Blaine; II should
seriously object to the repeal Of tho duty
on wool. To repeal tha: would work grea
injustice to many interesta and would So
riously discourage what We should
earnestly encourage, namely: the
sheep culture smong tho fermers
throughout the Union. To break down
wool growing and be dependent on foreign
countries for the blanket undsr which Te
alsep and the coat that covers our backs il
no. wise policy for the National Govern.
ment to enforce"
"Do you think ii the Presidents recon-
me1datlons were adopted 1t woald increase
our export trada?" 49,
"Poteibly in come few articles of peculia,
construction i. might, but it would in
crease our import trade ten fold as much
in tho greet staple fabrics, in wooden and
cotton goods, in iron, in steel, in oil the
thousand and one shapse in which they
arc wrought"
E"S MUST REDUCE WAGES.
"How are we to-export staple fabsicl
to the markets Of Europe unless We max,
then cheaper than they do in Europe
And how are We to manufacture then
cheaper than they do in Europe, unles
We get cheaper labor than they have II
Europs?" .5.
"Ihsn you think thst the question O
labor underlies the whole ubjsot?" =.
| "Ol course 1t does," replied MIR. Blaine
''lt 10 in fact the entire question. When
ever We can force carpenters, masonh
iron workers and mechanics in ever,
department to work as cheaply and live q
poorly in the United States as sinila
workmen OF Europe, We can, CT course
manufacture just as cheaply as they do il
England and France. But am total,
oppoeed to policy that would entail sucl
results. 10 attempt 1t is equivalent TO
social and financial revolution, one tha
would bring untold Distress"
"Ycs, ba. might not the great farmin,
class be benefited by importing article
from Europe instead Of buying them a
higher prices at home." -
."Ihs moment" answered Mr.. Blaine
"you begin 10 Import freely from Europ,
you drive our own Wo1kmen from ms
chanical and manufacturing pursuits
in the Bame proportion they become till
ers Of soil, increasing steadily the agr,cul
tural product md decreasing steadily tn
large home demand, which is constsntl,
enlarging as home manufacturers enlarge
That, Of course, works great injury to th
farmer, glutting the market with bis pro
duc:S and tending constantly to lowe
rr;oa ~ as..F.-- = .-..